The carriage was a lot of fun to build. I made the cheeks out of black walnut and the axles out of maple. As DD suggested, I mortised the axles into the cheeks, this is more like original construction and makes a stronger carriage. I made all of the steps in the cheeks the same height and length. I, also, made a stool bed and quoin instead of using an elevation screw. The small loose parts are easy to lose so I will later replace them with an elevating screw.
I decided to use a barrel that I cast last winter but had not finished. Unfortunately, the barrel was cast too close to finished size to allow removal of all imperfections left from the casting process. I, also, accidentally clamped one rimbase in the vice jaws while I worked on the opposite side which left permanent marks.
DD, please note black finish on carriage.
Max
